Handbox



T. HONMA.

HANDBOX.

APPLICATION FILED APILza. 192|.

1,428,092. v memedsept. 5,1922..

FIEA- Fatented Sept. 5, 19.22.

UNiTs ls'iaTssl Tn'rsUo nourrie., er

Lennon, ENGLAND.

HANnBox. f

Application mea April 2s, 192i. seriaiivo. 465,215.'y f

To all who/m, t may concern.'

Be it known that l, Tn'rsUo ject of thev Emperor of Japan, residing at London lno'land have invented certain new 7 D 3 and useful improvements in Handboxes, of which `the followingr is a specification.

It has been proposed to provide travelling and like trunks with hinged iiaps which fold into onet side of the trunk and which are adapted to be extended so as to serve as legs for supporting the trunk in an elevated position, the opposite side' of the trunk beingk also fittedwith flaps which are hinged to1 gether and form an expansible table top.

The object of the present invention is to provider a handbox of this kind which, while presenting the normal appearance and while its capacity relative to the weight and size is not materially increased, can be turned into a comfortable seat or table.

With this object in view l fit the legs in the side of the box so that they forni, when closed, a plain continuous surface and give the box side the appearance of being merely inlaid or ornamented. Thus a cover for the legs can be obviated.

The flaps are hinged to the box by means of rods which kare passed through the liaps and concealed from view. The stays for holding the legs in supporting` position are hinged to the fiaps and tothe box andv fold into recesses so as to be concealed.

To provide forlong legs, the flaps are cut so that the legs of one interniesh with those of the other when folded. lVhen a table is required, a further lengthening of the legs is effected by means of pivotal or like extensions fitted in the legs, the opposite side of the box beingthen fitted with four flaps which are hinged to the edges of the box and form plain continuous surfaces whether folded or extended.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is illustrated by way of example,

Fig. l representing a side elevation of the box showing its normal appearance,

Fig. 2, a side elevation of the box converted into a stool, and

Fig. 3, an elevation of the latter.

Fig. 4 is a side view of a box of modified construction, and

Fig. 5, a side elevation of this box converted into a stool and shown in section on the line A-B of Fig. 4.

HONMA, a sub- L Fig. 6 is a' plan of the box on ak reduced scaleshowing lflaps for the formation of an ei'ilarged table top. ,i v' 7 fnhandbox .a is provided withv a lid b, locks c and ahandle cl, in the usualinanner.

The side opposite the lid is depressed to y1nakeroomfor two flaps which are hinged yto thebox by means ofrods g so that they can be turned out and serve as legs for converting the `box into a stool or a table, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Coil springs it, arranged onthe rods Q,tend to open out the legs which are normally held in position by ineens of spring-catches v1. At a depression ofthe latter, the legs are turned automaticallyfinto supporting position, in which they lare retained by stays 7c and cross-pins Z so that'a perfectly rigid seating or like accommodation is obtained.

jT he rods g andv springs L areernbedded in the materialof the flaps so as tobe entirely hidden from view. 'is headed and countersunk in the box-side, and the other one is threaded to receive a rountersunknut. Thestays 7c are guidedin slots 'm made for the same in the box wall and in which they are normally concealed. rhe spaces, if any, formed between the folded flaps fare filled iny with correspondingly shaped pieces n which, as well as'the iaps, are iiush vwith the outer edges 0; Thus, `,the side of the box will ordinarily appear as if merely ornamented or inlaid, without vrevealing its nature as a combination article.

. A modification of the construction and a further ydevelopment vof the invention is sho-wn in Figs. 4 to 6.

ln the rst place the flaps f1 are cut so that the legs interinesh when folded and occupy the whole area of the box side, as shown in Fig. 4. Thus the legs can be made llonge: so as to heighten the stool. The legs may be formed with extensions 10 which are adapted either to be drawn out telescopically or to be turned about a hinge g into position for supporting the box sufficiently high to be used as a table. The opposite side of the box may be furnished with iiaps o" (preferably four. divided diagonally of the box), said flaps being hinged to the edges of the box so that they can be unfolded for extending the surface of the table top as shownby dotted lines in Fig. 6. Suitable catches of @ne end of the -rod ,g

known construction are used for securing the flaps in folded position.

Instead of they usual lid, the box may be fitted with a drawer s adapted to be drawn out from one of the ends of the box.

The springs it may be omitted for the sake of simplicity, recesses t (Fig. l) being made in the iaps f1 through Which the ends of the legs can be caught for unfolding.

rilhe stays 701 may be formed of hingedly connected links adapted simply to limit the spreading movement of the legs. A strip u, let into and hinged to the bottom of the box, is adapted to be turned out, as shoWnin Fig. 5, to prevent the legs from closing. AThe box is suitable for use in theatre queues and on race courses and the like. l-lawkers Will find it a useful implement for carrying and displaying their goods.

rlfhe `invention may be applied to a gramophone box and will then enable the instrument to be conveniently carried as Well as supported for play.

l.. ln a handbox of the character' described, hinged flaps fitted in one side of the box so as to be flush and continuous throughout the ent-ire extent of the bottom with adjacent surfacesl when closed and so that they can be turned out to serve as legs for converting the box into a stool or a table, substantially as set forth.

' '2. ln a handbox of the character described, fiaps tted in one side of the box so as to be flush and continuous throughout the entire extent of the bottoni with adj acent surfaces, rods concealed in the legs and con necting the latter to the box so that they can be turned out to serve as legs for converting ythe box into a stool or a table, and collapsible stays hinged to the box and the `legs for holding the legs in supporting position, the stays being arranged so as to be concealed when the legs are closed, substantially as set forth.

3. ln a handbox of the character described, hinged flaps fitted in one side of the box so that they can be turned out to serve as legs for converting the box into a stool or a table, the iaps being cut so as to intermesh and so as to be flush and continuous throughout the entire extent of the bottom with adjacent surfaces when closed, substantially as set forth.

Zl. ln a handbox of the character described, hinged flaps fitted in one side of the box so that they can be turned out to serve as legs for converting the ,box into a stool or a table, the flaps being cut so as to intermesh and so as .to be iush and continuous throughout the entire extent of the bottom with adjacent surfaces when closed, a distancing strip hinged to the box between the flaps, and stays cooperating with said strip for holding the flaps in supporting position, the stays being foldable and normally concealed in the box, substantially as set forth.

5. In a handbox'of the character described,

hinged flaps fitted in one side of the box so that they can b e turned out to serve as legs for converting the box into a stool or table, the flaps beingcut so as to interinesh and so as to be flush and continuous throughout the entire extent of the bottom with adjacent surfar es when closed, means for securing t-he Vliaps in supporting position, and extensions fitted in the flaps for increasing the lengt-h of the legs, substantially as set forth.

6. In a handbox of the character described, hinged flaps fitted in one side of the box so that they can be turned out to serve as legs for converting the box into a stool or table, the flaps being cut so as to intermesh and so as to be flush and continuous throughout the entire extent of the bottom with adjacent surfaces when closed, means for securing the flaps in supporting position, extensions itted in the four flaps for increasing the length of the legs, and flaps hinged to the edges of the oppositeside of the box so as to form an .expansible table top, substantially as set forth.

i TETSUC) HONMA. 

